ShimaneTravel

A Masterpiece Pond Garden at a Temple Where Sesshu Served as Chief Priest

About this spot

Ikokoji Temple is an ancient Rinzai sect temple said to have had Sesshu, the master painter, serve as its chief priest. Its foremost attraction is the pond garden, said to be designed by Sesshu, which is designated as a National Historic Site and Place of Scenic Beauty. The composition is said to represent a crane in the pond and a turtle in the mound. When viewed from the main hall's veranda, the stone arrangements, finely trimmed azalea shrubs, and the green mountains in the background form a unified landscape painting, allowing visitors to experience the perspective of the painter-monk Sesshu. The impressive main gate at the temple's entrance is said to have been relocated from the Oote Gate of Nanao Castle, the stronghold of the Masuda clan. The grounds are rich with seasonal colors—weeping cherry blossoms in spring and vibrant foliage in autumn—while rain-wet gardens display a deeper, more subdued beauty with moss and verdant greens.

Tips

Free parking is available in front of the temple grounds. Since the garden is meant to be viewed while seated on the main hall's veranda, slip-on shoes are convenient. On rainy days, stone pavements and moss can be slippery, so watch your footing.